5 replies to this topic

[Scubatooth]

In posts before my internship i mentioned that i would be keeping a blog about my internship and would be posting it online. well i have been keeping a log but i had not posted it online yet as i have been doing some edits to the content. Also I will be posting pictures that i have been taking while diving in the coming days once i get the new gallery program set up on my website.

So everyone Im going to post the latest entry from my log, but in the coming days i will back fill the dates on what I have been doing down here in Puerto Rico while on my DAN internship, as well as some of the events just prior to my internship orientation, and the internship orientation as well.

Tooth
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7/5/07: The day after the 4th of July, Just another day in paradise!
Today I slept again as yesterday was a long day of entering data, catching up on my weekly internship reports and a holiday so I took full advantage and enjoyed it the best I could which was watching a Rocky movie marathon that was on while entering data. Then as the sun was going down there where several concerts on TV featuring patriotic music which was very good, which was topped by a rendition of lee greenwoods “God Bless the USA” , by some American idol contestant. Then as sun was going down there where 4th of July shows by the major networks from New York: music by a couple of artists I hadn’t heard of and fireworks. Then after that one from Boston with a concert by the Boston pops, and fireworks set to music. While watching the fireworks yesterday it hit me that this was the 231st birthday of the United States which really hits me hard in that there are men and women around the world protecting my freedoms while I sit here on a couch in the AC; so for those that protect my freedom you have from the bottom of my heart my deepest gratitude and respect for what you do for this country.

For the past week and change I have spent a lot of time driving to the various operations to get profiles from divers and this week was a good one in that I was able to get 87 profiles this week from divers (~250 total, a little behind where I would like but not bad), not including my personal dives from this week so that brings it up to almost 100 for the week. So all in all that’s a pretty good week for me data wise, but I know that next week will be good (probably around a 100 profiles) as I have a few tags out on some divers with the operations I have contacts with (including the divemasters and boat captains), and divers on vacation. Then on top of that the shop that is hosting me has a group technical divers that are planning on doing some trimix dives as part of there trimix certification to around 240’ this weekend so im planning on getting there profiles for PDE as DAN is also looking for tech profiles in addition to recreational profiles I have been collecting from the dive ops. I will also be able to get some more tech profiles from a group of CCR students from the university of Puerto Rico – Mayaquez Marine Sciences division that will be coming back to take there MOD 2 class starting later next week.

This weekend I’m going to stay in Aquadilla instead of traveling to the boats as I have done a lot of driving as of late and its wearing me out just a little, and I don’t need to burn myself out and run the risk of getting sick. Even though I’m not going down to the boats to get divers, I can get the same number of profiles as I would down there are a lot of the locals and shop regulars planning on going out diving at crashboat, natural, and a couple going to a secret spot in Rincon so I can get there profiles as they have participated before when I first arrived in Puerto Rico. Then I was asked by one of the instructors of the group to help them by being a support diver for the divers doing the trimix dives. I said I would love to help out but I would be limited to the limits of my certification as I haven’t finished my deco procedures course, and haven’t even thought about a trimix course at all, as im planning on going down the rebreather route after the deco procedures course and then the mixed gas CCR route. Rafi (the instructor)said he didn’t have a problem with that, but he want to do a check out dive on Friday with me before the dives on Saturday. So I will finally be able to get back in to a set of doubles this coming weekend where I can get some skills and drills in so that I can keep them sharp, while at the same time doing dive support.

Ironically the talk of a trimix class came up over drinks tonight with tony at the local favorite deco stop other then the shop, and he said he would teach me if I was up to learning , for which I said sure thing. Time will tell, but if its that easy maybe I can roll the dice and see if I can get some CCR/training time while im down here as well, as that’s where I would like to go in the long term for my diving.

Before going out for dinner and drinks I was able to get out and dive today even though the weather looked threatening for most of the day, and really looked bad when I was heading down to the shop about 3 pm, but by 5 pm it didn’t look as threatening so Travis agreed to come along with me so I could get some bottom time to shoot some photos and work on getting the settings down on the camera as im still getting used to this TTL adaptor that works with my Oly C5050. I will post pictures of the camera rig in the coming days. Then I was able to get a fair number of shots that looked very good, but will need to download them to see exactly what I got. I shot everything from corals and sponges, to soldier fish and grunts, but the one shot I wasn’t able to get was. Also after I get used to the single strobe I already have one shot in my mind that I want to shoot with dual strobes and that is a barrel sponge on the last pier on the south side that is shaped like a heart that is like 5’ tall and atleast 8’ wide. Then after I had shut everything down I noticed some banded coral shrimp that where about about ½ in that I would have loved to shoot but would have needed a dual sync cord and a macro lens to shoot it, but I don’t have one yet (hint, hint if anyone wants to help me out).

Dive 1: Crashboat Pier Max Depth: 35’ Bottom Time 69Mins – Photography Proficiency Dive

[dustbowl diver]

Thanks for the update tooth!!

[Cold_H2O]

I loved diving in Puerto Rico

thanks for the update.

[Scubatooth]

Here are a couple photos from my diving so far. I will post more when i finish the back log for the blog later today as I'm getting ready to go dive.

Link to gallery

This is just a taste, im going to be getting many more shots in my time remaining in Puerto Rico as when i go out on the boat I will be taking the camera. I will post them for all to see, as im hoping to get a good collection of images for my professional working portfolio.

Let me know what you all think.

Tooth

[dustbowl diver]

Here are a couple photos from my diving so far. I will post more when i finish the back log for the blog later today as I'm getting ready to go dive.

Link to gallery

This is just a taste, im going to be getting many more shots in my time remaining in Puerto Rico as when i go out on the boat I will be taking the camera. I will post them for all to see, as im hoping to get a good collection of images for my professional working portfolio.

Let me know what you all think.

Tooth

Nice Pics-thanks for posting!

[diverdeb]

Here are a couple photos from my diving so far. I will post more when i finish the back log for the blog later today as I'm getting ready to go dive.

Link to gallery

This is just a taste, im going to be getting many more shots in my time remaining in Puerto Rico as when i go out on the boat I will be taking the camera. I will post them for all to see, as im hoping to get a good collection of images for my professional working portfolio.

Let me know what you all think.

Tooth

Very nice! Thanks for posting and look forward to seeing more.